In a huge step forward for animal welfare, Paris pledged this week to ban the use of wild animals in circuses, joining 50 other French towns and cities where this activity is already banned.
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, proposed the motion, which was unanimously supported by local authorities. The decision is not yet final, however, as the outcome will be decided by the French government at a later date.
This move comes only one month after a tiger was tragically shot and killed by its owner in a Paris street after escaping from a circus. Following this incident, animal welfare organizations increased pressure on French authorities to instigate the ban.
Although public awareness and widespread disapproval surrounding the use of animals in circuses is rapidly growing, only 19 countries worldwide have enforced bans on wild animal performances. In 2017, both Romania and Latvia voted for such bans, with Romania providing an 18-month “cooling off” period for captive animals to be re-homed.
In May this year, Ringling Brothers circus, famous for its use of elephants and big cats in its acts, closed down permanently, putting an end to 146 years of animal abuse. The reason was a massive decline in ticket sales following years of protests by animal activists, prompting them to retire their elephants. But by then, it was too late to recover.
Circus animals endure a life of suffering and pain. Threatened with bull hooks, whips, electric prods and collars that are too tight, they are forced to act out unnatural and humiliating behaviors purely for human entertainment, and spend their ‘downtime’ between shows chained up in tiny cages, barely able to turn around.
The Humane Society states that: “While circus promoters claim that trainers use only positive reinforcement, or rewards, reports prove otherwise. Circus training methods include beating animals with clubs and other objects and depriving them of food. Trainers sometimes strike elephants with sharpened hooks, which can result in physical injury. Trainers resort to brutal methods to try to maintain a position of dominance.”
Public pressure is the most powerful way to influence local governments and circus managers. You can help by avoiding any circus that uses animals in its shows, and speaking out about the cruelty.
Hip hip hooray!!!!
Excellent news! — We MUST protect our animals — domesticated as well as WILD — they need our protections!
GOOD work :: EXCELLENT ::::
This is great don’t quit now.
Great news!!!
HALLELUJAH!
ABOUT DAMNED TIME BUT GLAD IT’s DONE!
PLEASE NOTE MY E-MAIL ADDRESS IS IN ALL LOWER CASE LETTERS…CHANGE IS NECESSARY… AND WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN… IF WE WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS…TOGETHER WE CAN ACHIEVE EVERYTHING THAT WE THINK WILL BE POSITIVE FOR ALL LIVING CREATURES ON THE WONDERFUL EARTH
It’s about time. I’ve always felt that way about circuses and even zoos. I don’t go to either ones. Animals shouldn’t have to live a life or prison so that people can be entertained. Now let’s hope the rest of the world get on the band wagon.
It is lovely to hear about a mayor fighting for the safety of animals. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, proposed the motion, which was unanimously supported by local authorities. Let us all hope that the decision is made final by the French government sooner than later.
Let humans do the circus acts, such as Circus O’Lay, gymnists can do very artistic acts and can really excite the public. There are no excuses for the abuses of animals. They are not simply on earth for humans to abuse, when will humans wake up
I am so pleased to see that public opinion is causing the powers that be to abandon animal abuse for human entertainment. Animal abuse is wrong on every level and people are voting with their feet and wallets.
So happy for the animals that public sentiment is growing.
Good onya Paris.
So glad to read such good news…
This is such wonderful news!!! Keep up the good work 😉